Dublin take off with easy win over Laois

The remnants of winter hung in the air around St Margaret's yesterday as Dublin's footballers hinted at summer promise in an O'Byrne Cup quarter-final match that was over long before the two referees signalled the official end with a chorus on their whistles.

Time was when a meeting of these sides in this particular competition would have more blood spilt than a Tyson-Holyfield bout. Not yesterday. The surreal rural setting under the airport approach routes witnessed a rather one-sided affair, especially in the second half, with Tommy Carr's start as Dublin manager progressing along nicely, thank you very much.

"A good performance with some good scores taken and good concentration throughout," said Carr. "It's easy to be dismissive of competitions like this, but we went out and did the job quite well. These days, you can't start early enough in the preparation for the championship and, from my point of view, it is better to see players in a competitive match than on the training field."

Still, Dublin's 14-point winning margin was a touch flattering. For much of the first half, Laois took the game to the home side but couldn't score to save their lives. In fairness, Dublin goalkeeper Mick Pender pulled off one exceptional save - from a sixth-minute Hughie Emerson shot, deflecting the ball on to the crossbar - but Laois had seven first-half wides and, by the end, that tally had increased to 12. In contrast, Dublin had just three wides in the entire game.

For a January day, Dublin's shooting was remarkably accurate. Declan Darcy has settled into the attack with considerable ease, and success. Darcy kicked eight points yesterday, six from frees, and he was aided and abetted nicely by Ciaran O'Hare, who scored six points, three from frees. And, for his part, Jason Sherlock, prancing around like a spring lamb, claimed a goal and a point.

And, yet, the performance of Dublin's full back line was just as impressive. The new and young combination of Paddy Christie, Dermot Harrington and Jon McGee answered any questions that were asked and held scoreless a Laois full forward line that on many another day would expect a feast of scores.

Ironically, Laois started out with a greater sense of purpose and their midfield pairing of Declan Rooney and David Sweeney won abundant possession which, in turn, transformed into plenty of attacking opportunities. Ian Fitzgerald gave Laois the lead in the second minute, but, for all their chances, they couldn't take advantage.

By the 14th minute, Dublin were getting into the swing of things and any apprehension among their supporters, crowded three-deep behind ropes on the touchline, was evaporating.

And one move, at that time, typified Dublin's free spirited play: Ian Robertson, Brian Stynes and Darcy were all involved in a swift, clinical move that started deep in their territory and finished with O'Hare kicking a point with aplomb. That put the sides level, and a couple of minutes later Darcy got a point to give Dublin a lead they were never to relinquish.

Laois manager Martin Dempsey estimated his side had wasted something like 3-7 in scores in that first half; Carr put it at more like 1-3. Nevertheless, no side can afford to waste such possession and expect to win.

Dublin led 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time and turned the second half into an exhibition. For the most part, it was one-way traffic, and Sherlock's goal, in the 39th minute, effectively killed off the game. Mick Deegan's attempt for a point was more like a garryowen and seemed set to go harmlessly wide until Ciaran Whelan appeared from nowhere, flicked the ball back from the endline to Sherlock, and he doesn't miss from two yards.

The response from Laois was timid in the extreme. They managed only a couple of points - from Fitzgerald and a Mick Lalor free - while Dublin added six more, four from Darcy who looks increasingly like a prize acquisition. But, even as Dublin's supporters drifted away from the nicely-appointed grounds onto the country roads, the contented looks masked a realisation that it was only an O'Byrne Cup match in winter. There's a long way to go yet, for both sides.

There is an even longer way to go for the experimental rules which, in their present guise and on yesterday's evidence, are unlikely to survive past these "secondary" competitions, with the possible exception of the ground pick-up.